Ballot-marking mechanism



v a. BUMGARDNER. BALLOT MARKING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, l9l'9-.

1,861,226, Patented Dec. 7, 1920..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I v I INVENTOR. WITNESSES: fi q'gefizmgarqheg JATTORNEY (3-, BUMGARDNER.

BALLOT MARKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. I919.

Patentd Dec. 7,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVEN TOR. (622 995 42/757255 I ATTORNEY UNITED STA GEORGE BUMGARDNER,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALLOT-MARKING- MECHANISM.

menses.

Application filed April 24,

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE BUMGARDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ballot- MarkingMechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved mechanism for marking ballots by'which proper marking of the ballots is facilitated and by whichtampering with the marked ballots after they are marked. by the voter isprevented. My invention consists essentially of a mechanism for stampingor embossing on the ballot opposite the desired candidates names, anindicating character, as for example the letter K, the face of whichpreferably is conformed to print the character on the ballot and at thesame time emboss the character in the paper of the ballot to preventalteration subsequently. The embossing is preferably accomplished byusing a yielding platen or matrix to sup port the ballot, or a platen ormatrix having a corrugated surface cooperating with similar corrugationsin the face of the printing character. My invention also provides meansfor simultaneously marking a ballot in the manner described, to vote forcandidates for various offices, and means for inking the printingcharacters with indelible ink which by the marking operation is carriedinto the fiber of the ballot sheet to prevent alteration. My markingmechanism also prevents voting for more than one candidate for the sameoffice, where but one candidate is to be elected.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which- Figure 1shows the mechanism in plan view in selecting position, V

Fig. 2 shows the mechanism in front elevation in selecting position,

Fig. 3 shows the mechanismrin front elevation in open position,

Fig. 4c shows the mechanism in front elevation in marking position,

Fig. 5 shows one of the operating hooks in front elevation, this viewbeing taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hook shown in Fig. 5, r

Fig. 7 shows two of the printing blocks Specification of LettersPatent." Patented Dec. '7 1920,

1919. Serial No. 292,339.

in side elevation this view being taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of one of the printing blocks, and

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the rela-. tion between a markingcharacter and a resilient platen.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 to f inclusive, the mechanism for simultaneouslymarking the ballot for several ofiices consists of a base 15, providedwith upwardly projecting brackets l'd, which pivotally support at 17,one edge of a rectangular frame 18. The base 15 is provided with araised central portion 19, having a plane upper surface which preferablyis provided with small corrugations '20 extending transversely acrosssaid surface to support the ballot 21 to be marked.

The pivots 17 are contained in slots 22 in the brackets 16, springs 23being supported by the base to engage the right hand side of the frameto hold said pivots at the upper ends of said slots unless the frame isforcibly depressed.

The left hand side of said frame is simi larly supported in raisedhorizontal position by springs 24.

A plurality of rods 25 extend laterally of the frame 18 between its sidemembers to support the printing blocks 26 which may be moved laterallyon said rods to different desired positions. Each of the said blocks isprovided in its front and back faces with grooves 2'7 to receive saidrods. Said blocks are of such a height that the characters 28 on theirlower faces are slightly above the ballot 21 for the position of theframe 18 shown in Fig. 2 which is the selecting position of themechanism. In this position each of the blocks 26, which is inalinement, as shown'm Fig. 1, with one of the offices to be voted for,may be moved laterally until in line vertically, with the verticalcolumn of the ballot. for the candidate desired for the correspondingoffice.

A fibrous ink roller 29 rotatably supported at its ends in brackets 30carried by the base, and preferably filled with indelibleink, is locatedimmediately to the right of the portion 19, with its upper surfaceslightly above the plane of the printing faces of the blocks 26 for theposition of the frame 18 shown in Fig. 2 so that as each block is movedfrom its extreme right hand or initial position, to select a desiredcandidate, its printing faceengages said roller and is inked ready forthe printing operation. The printing faces of the blocks 26 arepreferably corrugated as indicated in Fig. 8 to cooperate with thesimilar corrugations 20 carried by the base 15.

To the right and left hand of the frame 18, the base 15 supports shafts31 and 32 in suitable brackets, said shafts have rigidly secured theretocranks 33 and 34 respectively, connected by a link 35. The shaft 32 alsohas rigidly secured thereto an operating lever 36. Each of said shaftscarries two hooks 37 for depressing the frame 18. Each of these hooks,as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is rotatably mounted upon an eccentric 38,rigidly carried by its supporting shaft. Each hook 37 is provided with aprojecting pin 39 supporting one end of a spring 40, the other end ofwhich is secured to a pin 41 projecting radially from the eccentric'38.

The spring 40 tends to hold the hook 37 in the position indicated inFigs. 5 and 6 relatively to the eccentric 38 with the pin 41 restingagainst a stop pin 42 projecting laterally from the hook As a result ofthe construction described, when the lever 36 is moved around to theright from the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, assuming that theblocks 26 have been positioned to indicate the wish of the Voteroperating the machine, the shafts 31 and 32 are rotated in oppositedirections to move the pins 41 away from the pins 42, and the action ofthe eccentrics 38 is to move the books 37 and frame 18 and parts carriedthereby toward the base and thus force the inked corrugations of thecharacters on the blocks 26 against the ballot 21 and force the engagedportions of the ballot between said corrugations and the corrugations20, thus breaking the fibers of the ballot somewhat and applying theindelible ink to said broken fibers as a result of which an impressionis made that cannot be erased.

The lever 36 is then moved in the reverse directionuntil the shafts andhooks assume the position shown in Fig. 3, for which position the frame18 is clear of the hooks and is raisedto vertical position and themarked ballot is removed. For this position of the frame, the blocks 26slide freely on the rods 25 to their lower ends, thus removing anyindication of the manner in which the ballot 21 has been marked andplacing the blocks 26 in their initial position fromwhich they cannot bemoved by the next voter without inking their printing characters in themanner above described.

The next voter, having a blank ballot to be voted, comes to the machine,places the ballot on the corrugations 20, which is facilitated by the,guide marks 43 and 44 on the ballot and base respectively, and moves theframe 18 to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. The voter thenmakes his selection of candidates as above described, and moves thelever 36 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2,which moves the hooks into engagement with the frame 18, and continuedmovement of the lever moves the frame and printing blocks to theposition shown in Fig. 4, after which the marked ballot may be removedas above described.

If desired, the corrugated surface 20 may be replaced by a thickness ofresilient material, such as rubber, as shown at 45 in Fig. 9, in whichcase the marking operation embosses the characters in the ballot.

WVhile I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment abovedescribed, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to thisexact construction in carrying out my invention, as I may employ anyequivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of thisapplication without departing from the scope of the appended claims.What I claim is: 1. In a ballot marking machine, the'combination of abase for receiving a ballot, a movable support carried by the base andhaving open, selecting and printing positions, a series of movableprinting characters carried by'said support, there being a character foreach oflice to be voted for and a different position for each charactera series of movable printing characters carried by sald support, therebeing a character for each oliice to be voted for and a differentposition for each character for each candidate for the corresponding.ofiice, and means for moving said supportfroni selecting to printingposition to print said characters upon a ballot, said base andcharacters being corrugated to produce correspondingcorrugated-impressions on a ballot.

3. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a movable support carried by the base and having open,selecting and printing positions, a series of movable printingcharacters carried by said support, there being a character for eachoflice to be voted for and a different position for each character foreach. candidate for the corresponding office, means for moving saidsupport from selecting to printing position to print said charactersupon a ballot, and an inking device for inking said characters whenmoved to selected position.

4. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a movable support carried by the base and having open,selecting and printing 'posi-' tions, a series of movable printingcharacters carried by said support, therebeing a character for eachoffice to be voted for and a different position for each character foreach candidate for the corresponding office, and means for moving saidsupport from selecting to printing position to print said charactersupon a ballot, said base having alining indications for properlylocating a ballot thereon.

5. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several olficesto bevoted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said offices, said frame having an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position. I

6. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several oflices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said oflices, said frame having an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a'printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, means for moving said frame from its selecting to itsprinting position, and an inking roller for inking said characters whenthe latter are moved from their initial to their selecting positions.

7 In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receiving aballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending across theframe, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars, saidcharacters being spaced to correspond with the several offices to bevoted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said oflices, said frame having an open.position to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with abnlot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position, movement of said frame to its open positioncausing said characters to move to their initial position.

8. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several ofiices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on saidbarsselecting desired candidates for said oflices, said frame having anopen position to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting positionpermitting movement of said characters without contact with a ballot toselect desired candidates and a printing position for pressing saidcharacters against a ballot, and means for moving said frame from itsselecting to its printing position, said base having alining indicationsthereon for locating a ballot on said base.

9. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a framepivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several oflices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said offices, said frame having an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position,

said characters and base being corrugated to correspondingly corrugate aballot by the printing operation.

10. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base-for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending across.the frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several offices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said offices, said frame having an openposi-, tion to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting positionpermitting movement of said characters without contact with a ballot toselect desired candidates and a printing position for pressing saidcharacters against a ballot, means for moving said frame from itsselecting to its. printing position, and an inking roller for inkingsaid characters when the latterare-moved from their initial with theseveral offices to be voted for on a ballot and movement of saidcharacters on said bars selecting desired candidates for said offices,said frame having an open position to insert and remove a ballot, aselecting position permitting movement of said characters withoutcontact with a ballot to select desired candidates and a printingposition for pressing said characters against a ballot, and means formoving said frame from its selecting to its printing position, saidmeans comprising rock shafts, devices connecting them for simultaneousoperation, an operating handle secured to one of said shafts, anddevices carried by said shafts engaging said frame for its selectingposition to move said frame to its printing position upon operation ofsaid handle.

12. In' a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base forreceiving a ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, barsextending across the frame, printing characters mounted to slide freelyon said bars, said characters being spaced to correspond with theseveral oflices to be voted for on a ballot and movement of saidcharacters on said bars selecting desired candidates for said oiilces,said. frame having an open position to insert and remove a ballot, aselecting position permittin movement of said ch2 acters without contactwith a ballot to select desired candidates and a printing position forpressing said characters against a ballot, and means for moving saidframe from its selecting to its printing position, said mean comprisingrock shafts, devices connecting them for simultaneous operation, anoperating handle secured to one of said shafts, devices carried by saidshafts engaging said frame for its selecting position. to move saidframe to its printing position upon operation of said handle, andsprings for supporting said frame in its selecting position.

13. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to'slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several ofiices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said oflices, said frame havin an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position, said means comprising rock shafts, devicesconnecting them for simultaneous operation, an operating handle securedto one of said shafts, eccentrics carried by said shafts, and hooksmounted on said eccentrics for engaging said frame for its selectingposition, motion of said handle in one direction operating said hooks tomove said frame to its printing position and motion of said handle inthe reverse direction moving said hooks to clear said frame, therebypermitting motion of said frame to its open position.

14. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a

frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending across the frame,printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars, saidcharacters being spaced to correspond with the several oliices to bevoted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on aid barsselecting desired candidates for said offices, said frame having an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position, said means comprising rock shafts, de

vices connecting them for simultaneous operation, an operating handlesecured to one of said shafts, eccentrics carried by said shafts, andhooks mounted on said eccentries for engaging said frame for itsselecting position, motion of said handle in one direction operatingsaid hooks to move said frame to its printing position and motion ofsaid handle in the reverse direction moving said hooks to clear saidframe, thereby permitting motion of said frame to its open position, andsprings for supporting said frame in its selecting position.

15. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freeely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several offices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said ofiices, said f ame having an openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters without contact with a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pres-sing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position, said means comprising rock shafts, devicesconnecting them for simultaneous operation, an operating handle securedto one of said shafts, eccentrics carried by said shafts, and hooksmounted on said eccentrics for engaging said frame for its selectingposition, motion of said handle in one direction operating said hooks tomove said frame to its printing position and motion of said handle inthe reverse direction moving said hooks to clear said frame. therebypermitting motion of said frame to its open position, and springs forsupporting said frame in its selecting position, and an inking rollerfor inking said characters When the latter are moved from their initialto their selecting positions.

16. In a ballot marking machine, the combination of a base for receivinga ballot, a frame pivotally mounted on the base, bars extending acrossthe frame, printing characters mounted to slide freely on said bars,said characters being spaced to correspond with the several offices tobe voted for on a ballot and movement of said characters on said barsselecting desired candidates for said ofiices, said frame having on openposition to insert and remove a ballot, a selecting position permittingmovement of said characters Without contact With a ballot to selectdesired candidates and a printing position for pressing said charactersagainst a ballot, and means for moving said frame from its selecting toits printing position, said means comprising rock shafts, devicesconnecting them for simultaneous operation, an opcrating'handle securedto one of said shafts, eccentrics carried by said shafts, and hooksmounted on said eccentrics for engaging said frame for its selectingposition, motion of said handle in one direction operating said hooks tomove said frame to its printing position and motion of said handle inthe reverse direction moving said hooks to clear said frame, therebypermitting motion of said frame to its open position, and springs forsupporting said frame in its selection position, and an inking rollerfor inking said characters When the latter are moved from their initialto their selecting positions, said characters and base being corrugatedto correspondingly'corrugate a ballot by the printingoperation.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of April,A. D. 1919.

GEORGE BUMGARDNER.

